Yokine has some of the oldest residential drainage in our service area, with original housing stock dating back to the 1930s and 1940s mixed in with later post war and infill builds. Drains in Yokine often tell a story of multiple eras of plumbing, and the work we do here looks different to the work we do in newer coastal suburbs. Drains Plus has cleared more than 20,000 drains across the Perth metro. This page covers what we typically see in Yokine and how we approach it.
Yokine sits within the City of Stirling, which manages the public stormwater network and kerbside connections. The suburb has one of the most varied housing stocks in our service area, with original 1930s and 1940s Federation and post war homes alongside 1960s and 1970s replacements and more recent infill. This is significant for drainage because the original homes typically had vitrified clay or earthenware sewer lines, which were the standard material when much of Yokine was first built. Many of these lines are still in service, and while clay is a long lived material, joints have had time to move, settle and offer access points for tree roots. Soils through Yokine are predominantly Bassendean sands, the leached grey inland soils that drain reasonably well in dry weather but can compact and shift over time. Established street trees, golf course adjacencies and large mature backyard plantings mean root pressure on drainage is high.
Root intrusion in clay and earthenware sewer lines is the most common single problem we deal with in Yokine. Jacaranda, lemon scented gum and peppermint roots find their way into joints and grow into thick masses inside the pipe. A blockage cleared without addressing the underlying cause will return within months. We also see pipe collapse and separation in older lines that have moved with ground settlement, particularly in older homes where major renovations or extensions have changed the load on the ground above. Cast iron in older bathrooms and laundries adds its own complications, with internal corrosion narrowing the bore of the line over time. CCTV is the starting point on almost every job in Yokine. Pipe relining is a common longer term answer because it restores the line to full flow without the need to dig up paving, mature landscaping or driveways. For sections that are beyond relining, targeted excavation and replacement is the alternative.
Drains Plus operates from Greenwood, a short drive from Yokine. For most call outs we can have a plumber on site the same day, and emergency call outs are covered around the clock. We are a single location business with a single Google profile, so when you book through us you are dealing directly with the team that will arrive at your address. Most blocked drain work is covered by our fixed price guarantee, and a free plumbing health check is included on every job. If we cannot clear the drain, our service is free.
We service Yokine as part of our wider coverage of the Perth northern suburbs. Nearby suburbs we cover include:
If you are based outside these areas, our full service area covers the Perth northern suburbs across four local government areas.
In many cases yes, at least in part. Older Yokine homes were typically built with vitrified clay or earthenware sewer lines, and unless previous owners have replaced or relined sections, the original material may still be in the ground. Clay is durable but joints have had time to shift, and root intrusion through joint gaps is the most common failure mode we see.
Recurring blockages in older Yokine homes are almost always root related. Clearing pulls the obstruction out but leaves the entry point intact. A CCTV inspection identifies exactly where the roots are entering, and pipe relining or targeted repair seals the access point so the problem does not return.
Not necessarily. Pipe relining is a no dig solution that installs a new liner inside the existing pipe and cures it in place, sealing cracks and joints from the inside. For most Yokine homes with established paving, mature gardens or extensions over the drain run, relining avoids the disruption of excavation. Where the line is too damaged for relining, we discuss the targeted excavation approach in detail before any work starts.
Slow drainage, gurgling sounds, water backing up at the lowest fixture, and recurring blockages at the same location are all warning signs. None of them mean a drain is about to collapse tomorrow, but they do mean it is worth a camera inspection before the situation becomes an emergency.
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